backWASHINGTON, October 6, 2014 — King & Spalding has recruited Norman A. Armstrong, Jr., former deputy director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition, as a partner in its Washington, D.C. office. Armstrong will help lead the firm’s global antitrust practice.
“We are thrilled to have a lawyer of Norm’s caliber join our growing antitrust practice. Lawyers with his depth of government antitrust experience are rare,” said Jeff Spigel, head of King & Spalding’s antitrust practice. “His expertise in merger and other competition issues, which he developed in his nearly 20 years of experience at all levels of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition, complements King & Spalding’s competition law practice.”
As a deputy director of the FTC, Armstrong led three divisions that investigate mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures in a wide-array of industries including casinos, chemicals, consumer goods, entertainment, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, retail and technology.
Armstrong oversaw some of the FTC’s most notable litigation matters in the last few years such as ProMedica Health System’s proposed acquisition of St. Luke’s Hospital, Phoebe Putney Health System’s proposed acquisition of Palmyra Park Hospital, and Whole Foods Market’s proposed acquisition of Wild Oats Market.
Armstrong also oversaw many other important merger investigations, including Kroger’s proposed acquisition of Harris-Teeter, Google’s proposed acquisition of AdMob, Pepsi and Coca-Cola Company’s proposed acquisitions of their largest bottlers, Dow Chemical’s proposed acquisition of Rohm and Hass, and Pfizer’s proposed acquisition of Wyeth. Armstrong served as deputy director under both the Bush and Obama administrations, making him one of a very few antitrust lawyers to serve in government leadership positions under both Republican and Democratic administrations.“Norm’s work across industries such as technology, life sciences, healthcare, and energy will be a good fit with King & Spalding’s existing strengths in these sectors,” said Robert E. (Bobby) Meadows, leader of King & Spalding’s business litigation practice.
Previously, Armstrong was deputy assistant director of the FTC’s Mergers IV Division where he was one of the lead litigators on the Inova/Prince William matter. He has also served as counsel to the director, and from 2001 – 2006 as liaison to the Department of Defense. Armstrong joined the FTC as a staff attorney in 1995. He is vice chair of the American Bar Association Antitrust Section’s mergers and acquisitions committee. He received a J.D. degree from Howard University Law School and a B.A. degree from the University of Virginia.
Armstrong said, “I am excited to join King & Spalding’s antitrust practice because of the firm’s platform, resources, and strategic focus, which provides comprehensive antitrust guidance in transactions, investigations, and litigation in all industries. I am also looking forward to working with the talented antitrust team, some of whom I have known personally and professionally for many years.”
About King & SpaldingCelebrating more than 125 years of service, King & Spalding is an international law firm that represents a broad array of clients, including half of the Fortune Global 100, with 800 lawyers in 17 offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The firm has handled matters in over 160 countries on six continents and is consistently recognized for the results it obtains, uncompromising commitment to quality and dedication to understanding the business and culture of its clients. More information is available at www.kslaw.com.